I SEE Cllr Andy D’Agorne persists in his belief that tram-trains are the answer to York’s traffic problems (Letters, February 5).

As one who spent his working life in rail and bus transport and who worked on the bids for both the Leeds Supertram and the Nottingham Express Transit system, I am an enthusiastic supporter of tramways.

However, I have a good idea how much tramways cost.

More than 20 years ago, we estimated the cost of the Leeds system – basically Tingley to Headingley – at around £100 million, but funding could not be raised.

Leeds is now looking for three times that amount for a less glamorous trolleybus network.

The recently-opened extensions to the Nottingham system – 10.8 miles long with 22 trams – cost £570 million, with the trams themselves coming in at about £1.6 million each.

The tram-trains now being delivered to Sheffield cost even more because they need to work from two different electrical systems and also meet main line crashworthiness standards.

By all means let us see trams here if we can persuade Europe or anybody else to fund them, but the magic money tree that drives left-wing policies doesn’t exist.

Cllr Peter Dew, Conservative, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without ward